Exploring 5 School Districts in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is a beautiful area with rolling hills and picturesque scenery. This area includes something for every prospective home buyer. There are urban areas with a true downtown, suburbs with planned subdivisions, and easy shopping. Lancaster county even has rural areas with homes on or adjacent to genuine farmland.
Starting Your Home Search With Schools
Most buyers begin the home buying process with a preference for either the city, the suburbs, or a rural area. However, it can still be hard to narrow the search for a home. Many buyers, especially those with children, design their search around available local school districts.
Lancaster County is home to 16 public school districts, each with a distinct character and reputation. Here are just a few of the school districts in Lancaster County, PA:
The School District of Lancaster
The School District of Lancaster serves almost 12,000 students as the largest district in the county. This is an urban school district with the most racially and economically diverse population. The school department meets the varied needs of its students through innovative approaches. These include a gifted program, online learning, and alternative schools, as well as several traditional schools. At the high school level, Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate program are also available.
Manheim Township School District
Manheim Township Schools have an excellent reputation with a suburban feel. However, they are close enough to the cities of Lititz and Lancaster to offer amenities that are typically in more urban areas. The district has been recognized as a 2019 Best Public School District. The high school has been singled out as a 2019 Best Public High School by Niche.com. This is a high-performing school district where 64% of the students are proficient in math and 80% in reading. Serving a larger student population, there are roughly 7000 students with 1 high school, 1 middle school (grades 7 & 8), 1 intermediate school (grades 5 & 6), and 6 elementary schools. The Manheim Township School District offers a gifted program. At the high school level, Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate program are offered.
Cocalico School District
The Cocalico School District is a strong, small school district serving about 3000 students. It covers the boroughs of Denver and Adamstown, as well as East Cocalico and West Cocalico Townships. This largely suburban district has 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. Of its students, 52% are proficient in math. 73% are proficient in reading. The district offers a gifted program. Also, an Advanced Placement courses.
Conestoga Valley School District
The Conestoga Valley School District is a regional district, serving the communities of East Lampeter Township, Upper Leacock Township, and West Earl Township. These communities offer the full range of Lancaster county, from urban living touching on the city of Lancaster, to truly rural areas farther out from the city, with suburban living in between. It has 4 elementary schools. Also, 1 middle school and 1 high school. In total, it serves just over 1,300 students. 54% being proficient in math and 73% being proficient in reading. Conestoga Valley School District offers a gifted program and Advanced Placement courses.
Hempfield School District
The Hempfield School District serves the communities of East and West Hempfield, East Petersburg, and Mountville. Uniquely, school district encompasses a diverse area which includes both farmland and suburbs. The school population draws from a mix of families in agriculture, blue collar workers, and professionals. The system has 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. This is a larger system that serves roughly 8000 students. Hempfield schools are high-performing, with 59% of the students proficient in math and 75% proficient in reading. The school offers a gifted program and Advanced Placement courses.
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